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Henry Schein at a Glance

Press Release Details

Henry Schein Reports Record First Quarter EPS of $0.55; Strong Sales Growth Drives 20% Increase in EPS

05/06/03

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2003--Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: HSIC), the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners in the combined North American and European markets, today reported record first quarter financial results.

Net sales for the first quarter ended March 29, 2003 were $738.0 million, an increase of 14.0% from the first quarter of 2002 (13.8% on a comparable basis - See Exhibit A for details of comparable basis sales growth comparisons). In local currencies, net sales increased 10.8% (10.5% on a comparable basis). All sales growth for the quarter was internally generated. Dental sales increased by 6.3% (6.1% on a comparable basis), Medical sales increased by 19.8%, Technology and Value-Added Services sales grew by 18.9% (12.4% on a comparable basis), and International sales improved by 22.5% (3.4% in local currencies).

Net income for the first quarter of 2003 was $24.8 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, representing increases of 25.5% and 22.2% compared with the first quarter of 2002, respectively. On a comparable basis, net income grew by 23.2% and diluted EPS increased by 20.0% (See Exhibit B for details of comparable basis income statement growth comparisons).

For the quarter, Dental consumable merchandise sales increased 4.8% and Dental equipment sales were up 13.2% (11.9% on a comparable basis). European Dental sales increased by 5.2% in local currencies.

"We are delighted to report record first quarter sales and earnings, highlighted by net sales growth in local currencies approximately twice our estimated consolidated growth rate of the markets we serve," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Henry Schein. "We achieved these excellent financial results despite severe winter weather during the quarter in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S., which we estimate negatively impacted sales growth by 50 to 100 basis points," he added.

"The solid growth in dental equipment sales and service revenue is due to our investment in this segment of our business, coupled with a continuing trend by dentists to increase capacity and improve productivity by adding new operatories and investing in new technologies," stated Mr. Bergman. "Enrollment of dental practices in our Privileges customer-loyalty program continues to rise, and at the end of the first quarter more than 12,000 dental customers were participating in this innovative program. Results continue to indicate that these customers are increasing their business with us at a rate significantly above our average customer."

Commenting on the Company's Medical Group, Mr. Bergman remarked, "We are extremely pleased with the Medical Group's sales growth, which includes strong performance in all segments of our Medical business."

The Company also announced that under a stock repurchase program of up to 2 million shares of common stock announced on March 12, 2003, 152,500 shares were repurchased during the first quarter at an average purchase price of $42.51 per share.

The Company now expects full year earnings per diluted share to be $2.97 to $3.00, including a $0.01 one-time gain in the first quarter of 2003. This represents a growth rate of 14% to 15% compared with 2002 results. This growth rate excludes the $0.01 one-time gain during the first quarter of 2003 and $0.04 in one-time gains during 2002. The Company noted that this 2003 EPS guidance is for current operations, and does not include the impact of potential acquisitions.

First Quarter Conference Call Webcast

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss first quarter financial results today, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Individual investors are invited to listen to the conference call over the Internet through Henry Schein's Website at www.henryschein.com. In addition, a replay will be available beginning shortly after the call has ended.

Henry Schein, Inc. is the largest distributor of healthcare products and services to office-based healthcare practitioners in the combined North American and European markets.

Recognized for its excellent customer service and low prices, the Company serves more than 400,000 customers worldwide, including dental practices and laboratories, physician practices and veterinary clinics, as well as government and other institutions.

The Company operates its four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 125 countries with a comprehensive selection of over 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products. Henry Schein also offers a wide range of innovative value-added practice solutions, including such leading practice management software systems as DENTRIX(R) and Easy Dental(R) for dental practices, and AVImark(R) for veterinary clinics, which are installed in over 49,000 practices; and ArubA(R), Henry Schein's electronic catalog and ordering system. Headquartered in Melville, New York, Henry Schein employs over 6,900 people in 16 countries. The Company's 2002 sales reached a record $2.8 billion. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Website at www.henryschein.com.

Certain information contained herein includes information that is forward-looking. The matters referred to in forward-looking statements may be affected by the risks and uncertainties involved in the Company's business. These forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

 HENRY SCHEIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                 (in thousands, except per share data)
                              (unaudited)

                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                ---------------------
                                                March 29,    March 30,
                                                  2003         2002
                                                --------     --------


Net sales                                       $737,997 $647,093
Cost of sales                                    536,580      468,703
                                                --------     --------
       Gross profit                              201,417      178,390
Operating expenses:
    Selling, general and administrative          159,212      143,192
                                                --------     --------
       Operating income                           42,205       35,198
Other income (expense):
    Interest income                                2,392        2,439
    Interest expense                              (4,733)      (4,828)
    Other - net                                      685         (566)
                                                --------     --------
       Income before taxes on income,
        minority interest and equity in
        earnings of affiliates                    40,549       32,243
Taxes on income                                   15,206       12,064
Minority interest in net income of
 subsidiaries                                        737          569
Equity in earnings of affiliates                     160          120
                                                --------     --------
Net income                                      $ 24,766 $ 19,730
                                                ========     ========


Net income per common share:
    Basic                                       $   0.56 $   0.46
                                                ========     ========
    Diluted                                     $   0.55 $   0.45
                                                ========     ========

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
    Basic                                         44,008       42,791
                                                ========     ========
    Diluted                                       45,069       44,069
                                                ========     ========
 HENRY SCHEIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                   (in thousands, except share data)

                                                March 29, December 28,
                                                  2003        2002
                                               ----------  ----------
                                               (unaudited) (audited)
     ASSETS
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                  $  186,995 $  200,651
    Marketable securities                          14,442      31,209
    Accounts receivable, less reserves of
     $37,762 and $36,200, respectively            381,128     368,263
    Inventories                                   334,910     323,080
    Deferred income taxes                          28,725      29,919
    Prepaid expenses and other                     67,846      74,407
                                               ----------  ----------
            Total current assets                1,014,046   1,027,529
Property and equipment, net of accumulated
 depreciation and amortization of $108,397 and
 $101,519, respectively                           148,728     142,532
Goodwill                                          305,638     302,687
Other intangibles, net of accumulated
 amortization of $4,505 and $4,151,
 respectively                                       8,787       7,661
Investments and other                              74,083      77,643
                                               ----------  ----------
                                               $1,551,282 $1,558,052
                                               ==========  ==========
     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                           $  213,868 $  243,166
    Bank credit lines                               3,213       4,790
    Accruals:
       Salaries and related expenses               44,708      53,954
       Merger and integration, and
        restructuring costs                         2,779       3,044
       Acquisition earnout payments                     0       1,460
       Taxes and other expenses                   115,753     114,254
    Current maturities of long-term debt            2,600       2,662
                                               ----------  ----------
            Total current liabilities             382,921     423,330
Long-term debt                                    242,868     242,561
Other liabilities                                  25,109      24,196
                                               ----------  ----------
            Total liabilities                     650,898     690,087
                                               ----------  ----------
Minority interest                                   9,070       6,748
                                               ----------  ----------
Stockholders' equity:
    Preferred stock, $.01 par value, authorized
     1,000,000, issued and outstanding: 0 and
     0, respectively                                    0           0
    Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized
     120,000,000, outstanding: 44,144,423 and
     44,041,591 respectively                          441         440
    Additional paid-in capital                    440,369     436,554
    Retained earnings                             451,286     430,389
    Treasury stock, at cost, 0,and 62,479
     shares, respectively                               0      (1,156)
    Accumulated comprehensive loss                   (597)     (4,794)
    Deferred compensation                            (185)       (216)
                                               ----------  ----------
            Total stockholders' equity            891,314     861,217
                                               ----------  ----------
                                               $1,551,282 $1,558,052
                                               ==========  ==========
 HENRY SCHEIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                            (in thousands)
                              (unaudited)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                   ------------------
                                                   March 29, March 30,
                                                     2003      2002
                                                   --------  --------

Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income                                     $ 24,766 $ 19,730
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash used in operating activities:
          Depreciation and amortization               8,544     5,798
          Provision for allowances on trade
           receivables                                1,535     1,234
          Other                                       2,560    (1,237)
    Changes in assets and liabilities (net of
     purchase acquisitions):
          (Increase) decrease in accounts
           receivable                               (12,537)    4,613
          Increase in inventories                    (8,824)   (3,796)
          Decrease (increase) in other current
           assets                                    10,837      (195)
          Decrease in accounts payable and accruals (40,966)  (64,933)
                                                   --------  --------
Net cash used in operating activities               (14,085)  (38,786)
                                                   --------  --------

Cash flows from investing activities:
    Capital expenditures                            (13,508)  (17,590)
    Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired      (2,281)  (28,150)
    Purchase of marketable securities with
     maturities of more than three months            (4,101)  (10,455)
    Maturities of marketable securities with
     maturities of more than three months            26,430         0
    Other                                            (1,487)     (302)
                                                   --------  --------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   5,053   (56,497)
                                                   --------  --------

Cash flows from financing activities:
    Principal payments on long-term debt               (254)  (12,013)
    Proceeds from issuance of stock upon exercise
     of stock options by employees                    4,600     7,183
    Payments for repurchases of common stock         (6,483)        0
    Proceeds from borrowings from banks                 935       481
    Payments on borrowings from banks                (2,610)     (394)
    Other                                                65      (423)
                                                   --------  --------
Net cash used in financing activities                (3,747)   (5,166)
                                                   --------  --------

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents           (12,779) (100,449)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
 equivalents                                           (877)      503
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period      200,651   193,367
                                                   --------  --------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period           $186,995 $ 93,421
                                                   ========  ========
Exhibit A

                          Henry Schein, Inc.
                          2003 First Quarter
            Details of "Comparable Basis" Growth Comparison
                         Net Sales by Category
                            (in thousands)
                              (unaudited)

                                               First Quarter     %
                                               2003     2002   Growth

Net Sales As Reported
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dental                                        313,956  295,281    6.3%
Medical                                       277,140  231,422   19.8%
International                                 129,600  105,838   22.5%
Technology                                     17,301   14,552   18.9%
Total                                         737,997  647,093   14.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------------



Add: Technology Sales Methodology (1)
Dental                                              -      626
Medical                                             -        -
International                                       -        -
Technology                                          -      836
Total                                               -    1,462



Net Sales Comparable Basis
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dental                                        313,956  295,907    6.1%
Medical                                       277,140  231,422   19.8%
International                                 129,600  105,838   22.5%
Technology                                     17,301   15,388   12.4%
Total                                         737,997  648,555   13.8%
----------------------------------------------------------------------


(1) As part of the Company's Dental marketing initiative, MarketOne,
    certain technology and equipment products are now being sold
    directly to end-user customers rather than through resellers. This
    had no impact on net income since the increase in net sales was
    directly offset by an increase in commission expense.
Exhibit B

                          Henry Schein, Inc.
                          2003 First Quarter
            Details of "Comparable Basis" Growth Comparison
                       Income Statement Summary
                 (in thousands, except per share data)
                              (unaudited)




                                              First Quarter     %
                                              2003     2002   Growth

As Reported
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Sales                                   737,997  647,093   14.0%

Operating Income                             42,205   35,198   19.9%
Margin                                          5.7%     5.4%    28 bp

Net Income                                   24,766   19,730   25.5%

EPS                                            0.55     0.45   22.2%
----------------------------------------------------------------------



Add: Technology Sales Methodology  (1)
Net Sales                                         -    1,462
Operating Income                                  -        -
Net Income                                        -        -
EPS                                               -        -

Subtract: Gain on Sale of Building (2)
Net Sales                                         -        -
Operating Income                                  -        -
Net Income                                     (454)       -
EPS                                           (0.01)       -



Comparable Basis
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Sales                                   737,997  648,555   13.8%

Operating Income                             42,205   35,198   19.9%
Margin                                          5.7%     5.4%    29 bp

Net Income                                   24,312   19,730   23.2%

EPS                                            0.54     0.45   20.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------------


(1) As part of the Company's Dental marketing initiative, MarketOne,
    certain technology and equipment products are now being sold
    directly to end-user customers rather than through resellers. This
    had no impact on net income since the increase in net sales was
    directly offset by an increase in commission expense.

(2) In the first quarter of 2003, the Company recorded a net non-
    recurring gain related to the sale of a building. The pretax gain
    was $726 thousand, and was reflected on the "Other-net" line of
    the income statement.

CONTACT: Henry Schein, Inc. Steven Paladino, 631/843-5500
or
Susan Vassallo, 631/843-5562
svassa@henryschein.com